Women Talks #2: Building a Supportive Women Community Through Conversation

Women Talks #2 was more than an event.
It was a moment of pause, connection, and shared presence.

This second gathering brought women together around the same table to listen deeply, share real stories, and build a supportive women community based on trust, openness, and belonging.

Women Talks exists to create safe spaces where women feel heard, seen, and inspired—without pressure, judgment, or urgency.

Why Women Talks Matters

In a fast-paced world focused on quick answers and constant productivity, Women Talks offers something different:

• A safe space for women to speak and be heard
• A community built on emotional connection and mutual support
• Conversations that value human experience over performance
• Moments of reflection that inspire personal and collective growth

Like a slow-cooked recipe, meaningful communities need time—and that time is intentional here.

Our Guest Speaker: Olga Cavaleiro

At the heart of Women Talks #2 was our guest speaker, Olga Cavaleiro.

She is:

• A sociologist and food heritage researcher
• Deeply connected to Portuguese culinary traditions
• Winner of the 2025 Gourmand Award – Best of the Best Food Heritage of the World

Her presence brought calm, depth, and a powerful reminder that culture, food, and human connection are inseparable.

Words That Defined the Evening

Olga shared reflections that stayed with everyone long after the conversation ended:

“We need to make use of the human richness we have, because we need to feel the world that exists beyond our own.”

“Everything has its right time. Living without the urgency of immediate solutions or plans gives life and inspires us toward greater challenges.”

These words resonated because they reflect the core of Women Talks:
slowing down to feel before deciding.

Food as a Bridge for Connection

Food played a meaningful role in the experience, reinforcing the idea that the table is a place of stories and belonging.

The evening included:

• Portuguese chestnut soup with miso
• Roast pork sandwiches marinated in cachaça, with fresh parsley
• Regional wines from Alentejo, carefully selected by sommelier Catarina Meneses to match the menu
• Coffee served with Pastel de Tentúgal from Pastelaria O Afonso a treasured symbol of Portuguese pastry tradition

Each element contributed to a shared sensory and emotional experience.

🌰 Chestnut & Apple Soup 🍎 (Serves 4–6)

Inspired by a recipe from Joana Limão (Instagram: @joanalimao)

Ingredients

• 2 medium onions, approx. 350 g
• 250 g chestnuts (peeled, frozen recommended)
• 1 apple, approx. 150 g
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 750 ml vegetable stock or water
• 1 tbsp brown rice miso (optional)

Topping

• 30 g pumpkin seeds
• 1 tbsp soy sauce

Method

• In a large pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions, apple, and chestnuts.
• Season with salt and cook for about 10 minutes.
• Add the vegetable stock and simmer over medium-low heat for 20–30 minutes, until the chestnuts are very soft.
• The miso is optional, but it adds an elegant depth of flavor.
• Blend the soup using a hand blender or a regular blender until smooth and velvety.
• If needed, adjust the texture with a little hot water. Taste and adjust salt to your preference.
• For the topping, lightly toast the pumpkin seeds in a frying pan—be careful not to burn them.
• Finish with a few drops of soy sauce for a delicious final touch.